Gary Neville says Casemiro’s spurring leadership of Manchester United could prove to be a thorn in the side of Manchester City and table-toppers Arsenal in this season’s Premier League title race.
The Reds are 11 points off top spot albeit have a game in hand over the top two, with a win closing the gap to second place City to three points. Neville ultimately believes Erik ten Hag’s side will fall short of the crown this time around but suggested Casemiro's relentless leadership of United will cause the leading pack a headache.
The Brazilian has been central to United’s success this season and has been the engine driving the club’s good form from midfield. This was evidenced upon his half-time introduction in Wednesday’s 3-1 FA Cup fifth round win over West Ham when he injected life into the team after a lacklustre first-half.
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Speaking to Sky Sports, Neville said: “I heard Erik ten Hag say that it’s for dreamers, about the title, and I would agree with him. I feel myself they’re not going to win the title but I wouldn’t like Casemiro chasing me down.
“If Arsenal and City were to drop points in this next month or so, I wouldn’t like Casemiro chasing me down in the run-in as he’s the type of person on his own in that club who could have a massive impact in terms of how Manchester United would approach it.”
Neville hailed the influence Casemiro is having on United this season and gave an example of his authoritative qualities from Wednesday’s win against the Hammers. He continued: “There was a point last night - we talk about him a lot now - what Casemiro has done to that dressing room and that team is off the scale.
“There was a free-kick on the left-hand side which Bruno Fernandes had at one point and Casemiro went and pointed to the [penalty] spot to put it there and said I’m going to head it.
“Bruno put it there and he actually headed it and the goalkeeper saved it. He just looks at this moment in time like he’s in complete control of that team, he looks like he’s such a dominant force.”
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